In a market of sluggish luxury home sales, a heritage home on Sea View Road in Saanich has sold for $6.1 million, the most expensive home sold so far this year in Greater Victoria.

The 8,035-square-foot West Coast Tudor mansion known as Miramar was designed by Percy L. James in 1928.

It sits on a 2.25-acres, has 500 feet of waterfront and was purchased by an Alberta couple.

It was listed for $7.59 million in December 2010. Listing agent Georgia Wiggins of Remax Camosun closed the deal Sept. 20.

The four-bedroom house had recently been completely renovated, with a master bedroom wing added. Wiggins said woodworkers were brought from Vancouver to work on the interior renovation.

“The designers (Vancouver-based Richard Salter Interiors) had the woodworkers stay in the house for a few weeks before work began to get the flavour of the house,” she said.

Sales of luxury homes have decreased slightly in 2011.

There have been 147 sales over $1 million in the region so far this year, down from 161 for the same period in 2010.

“If you look at this year over last we’re down about 10 per cent in terms of the number of (luxury) properties sold, but we’re kind of down 10 per cent overall.” said Dennis Fimrite, president of the Greater Victoria Real Estate Board.

“Certainly the high-end market moves a little slower when there are fewer purchasers around. Starter homes – those listed under $500,000 – are the hot commodity these days,” he added.